The Niger Workers Democratic Convention
says all is set for their scheduled mass strike Thursday to demand better working
conditions. The workers claim the government has refused to abide by a recently
signed agreement that promised better pay.

A court, however, ruled in favor of
the workers Wednesday after the government tried to prevent the protest.

The
workers are demanding a 50 percent pay increase and the reinstatement of their
dismissed colleagues.

Moustapha Aboubacr is a leading organizer of the striking
workers. He told VOA that they will not relent until the
government lives up to its part of the agreement.

"We
demand the government and the president of the republic of the agreement we
signed with his government. They have
dismissed some of our comrades in certain areas of work like the mine. We
demand the government to allow the media of government to cover all of our
activities…and the general augmentation of about 50 percent of our salaries,"
Aboubacr said.

He
hailed the court's ruling which paved the way for the strike.

"The
government has taken us to the court, but I'm glad to tell you that we won the
process. So the government has to take note of what has been done by our
justice. So legally, we are observing the strike today," he said.

Aboubacr
said the government has yet to hold discussions with them about their demands.

"We
are waiting on the government to call on us anytime to discuss all these
points," Aboubacr said.

He
reiterated that the workers will continue the strike until their demands are
met.

"We
do hope that the government will take it seriously and call on us to discuss
all these points. If not, we are determined to go further until the problem is
solved," said Aboubacr.

Meanwhile,
other trade unions have reportedly expressed support for the striking workers,
urging their members to join Thursday's stoppage.